Staff Mentoring and Service Delivery in Academic Libraries: Evidence from Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education and Imo State University, Owerri
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study evaluates staff mentoring programmes and their influence on service delivery in two academic libraries in Owerri, Imo State: Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education (AIFUE) and Imo State University (IMSU). While prior research has examined mentoring and job satisfaction or performance in isolation, a comparative evaluation focused specifically on service delivery outcomes across these two institution types remains absent. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised 87 library staff across both institutions. Total enumeration was used due to the manageable population size. A structured questionnaire was validated by three experts and tested for reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.84). Data were analysed using mean scores, standard deviation, and Pearson correlation at 0.05 significance level. Mentoring availability differed significantly: AIFUE staff reported higher access to formal mentoring structures, while IMSU relied predominantly on informal peer mentoring. Mentoring was positively and significantly correlated with service delivery at both institutions (AIFUE: r = 0.61, p < 0.05; IMSU: r = 0.48, p < 0.05). Key challenges included mentee overdependence, inadequate orientation, and absence of documented mentoring policy. This study provides the first direct comparison of mentoring for service delivery between a federal university of education and a conventional state university library in Imo State, offering context-specific recommendations for policy and practice.
DOI: 10.54117/m59m5r23
Institution: Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W7225448523